Brilliant Voices: Interview With Jeannine Hebb

Post written by Laura Cococcia. You can follow Laura on Twitter.

From the age of 11, Jeannine Hebb has been singing her own song.

An award-winnning singer and songwriter, Jeannine recently debuted her original album “Too Late to Change Me” and has performed throughout the Northeast.

Jeannine graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music and has studied with some of the top performers in the music world, including Gabrielle Goodman, Pat Pattison, and Livingston Taylor.

As part of our ongoing effort to share more about the people shaping our musical culture, I recently connected with Jeannine to talk more about where she gets her creative ideas and inspiration.

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Laura: Was there a particular moment you realized you wanted to be a singer / songwriter or did it evolve over time?

Jeannine: I think there was a part of me that always knew I wanted to be on stage. When I was a kid I was very shy, but anytime I had the opportunity to perform or speak in front of a large audience, I felt confident and at ease. I loved singing and started writing as soon as I learned how to play the piano.

I’d spend hours writing millions (exaggeration) of songs and recording them on my tape recorder – only to stuff them into a box and put them away in the closet. Eventually they’d make it out of the closet and onto the stage at school or a local club.

When I got a little older, I realized my hobby had become more of an identity. Music and performing became my things, and being involved with them made me happier than anything else.

Laura: What are some of the most satisfying aspects of songwriting for you? The most challenging or difficult?

Jeannine: The most satisfying aspect of writing or creating anything is that it’s entirely my own. When I write a song, it’s my fingerprint.

The most challenging part of writing is making a song when I feel like doing something else. To be a successful and prolific writer, sometimes you have to sit down and create when you’re not feeling particularly creative. That’s when it becomes more of a job than a fun activity, and that can be difficult to swallow.

Laura: Where do you get most of your inspiration for your lyrics?

Jeannine: I don’t think they come from any one place. I’m kind of boring, so I like to listen and learn about other people’s lives. Reading a paper, or eaves dropping on the subway. It’s amazing what goes on in the lives of ordinary people around you, and sometimes their situations make for great songs.

On the other hand, if I’m experiencing any sort of strong emotions related to my life, I love to write about them. Anytime I’m feeling overwhelmed is a great time to write lyrics. That’s when the songs mean the most. To me, it seems very obvious when someone writes a song they’re completely connected to. Those songs are always the best ones.

Laura: With all of your years of experience, what advice can you offer other aspiring songwriters/singers – or even other writers – as they kick off their own creative efforts?

Jeannine: Do what you want. Take advice and criticism and apply it appropriately, but don’t ever let it be a deciding factor in what you’re trying to do as an artist. Get to know your craft. Go to school, take lessons, listen, watch, learn, and absorb.

Try not to get frustrated even when it seems like no one’s listening. There’s someone out there enjoying what you’re doing, even if you don’t realize it.
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Huge thanks to Jeannine for spending some time with us at TJCC. You can find out more about Jeannine, her work and her upcoming performances on her site. You can also read what others had to say in a recent article about Jeannine at Voices to Hear.

Editor’s note: This is a continuation of the songwriter interview series originally launched at Laura Reviews. More songwriter and musician interviews to come.

Tagged as: Interviews, Laura Cococcia, Music, Writing